The biggest city rivalry in England will be rekindled at Wembley Stadium on Saturday when Manchester United take on Manchester City in the third-ever Community Shield Manchester derby.
The two sides, who recently met in the final of the FA Cup, which United won 2-1 back in June at the same ground, will face off in the curtain-raiser for the 2024-25 English football season.
Team head-to-head
The two city rivals will be meeting in the Community Shield for the third time. United emerged victorious in their previous two matchups, winning 1-0 in 1956 and 3-2 in 2011.
What does history say?
City, reigning Premier League champions, are currently on a three-game winless run in the Community Shield, having lost consecutively to Leicester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
United, on the other hand, are the record winners with 21 titles in total, including victories in their last four appearances. However, this will be their first game in the Community Shield since 2016, when they defeated Leicester City 2-1.
Saturday’s game holds significance as it will be the eighth time in Community Shield history that the match will be a reply to the previous season’s FA Cup final. The previous ones are: 1957 (Man Utd v Aston Villa), 1977 (Man Utd v Liverpool), 1985 (Everton v Man Utd), 1986 (Everton v Liverpool), 1988 (Liverpool v Wimbledon), 2007 (Man Utd v Chelsea), and 2017 (Arsenal v Chelsea).
The next instalment of the Manchester Derby comes in this Saturday’s Community Shield… 🍿👀#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Eq7r1VOjhv
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 7, 2024
Key stats
United and City have both suffered nine defeats in the community Shield, the joint most in history. The loser of Saturday’s game will become the first team to lose ten matches in the Shield.
Norwegian forward Erling Haaland has enjoyed goal-scoring success against United in his short time in England, scoring nine goals in six appearances. However, the 24-year-old has yet to find the net in four matches at Wembley.
England international Kobbie Mainoo, 19, scored United’s second goal in their win over City in the FA Cup final. A goal at Wembley on Saturday will see him become the first teenager since Nicolas Anelka in 1998 to score in the FA Cup final and Community Shield in consecutive appearances.
Match Preview
The Cityzens will be without the quartet of John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, and Euro 2024 winner Rodri when the Community Shield gets underway, as they continue to build fitness for the start of the new season. Likewise, World Cup winner and Argentine forward Julian Alvarez will not be a part of the line-up as he continues to near a move to Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, the red side of Manchester will be without Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund and new signing Leny Yoro due to injuries, while their defensive options heading into the game will be spread thin as Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Victor Lindelof are all doubtful for the game as per head coach Erik Ten Hag.
